Embracing Death, Dying, & Living

Where End-of-Life Planning Meets Soulful Preparation
Transform Your Relationship with Mortality & Live More Fully

DISCOVER WHAT AND WHO MATTERS MOST

EXPLORE YOUR HISTORY & RELATIONSHIP WITH DEATH 

PLAN YOUR CELEBRATION OF LIFE

WRITE LETTERS TO LOVED ONES 

SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

MITIGATE CONFLICT THROUGH CLEAR DIRECTIVES 

EXPERIENCE PROFOUND PEACE IN WELL-LAID PLANS

As we move through life, there is nothing more certain—and no better teacher—than death. Yet our culture denies this sacred transition, limiting our capacity to live an awakened life. This transformational program empowers you to purposefully align your end-of-life plans with your deepest values, creating clarity instead of conflict, consciousness instead of confusion, and unity instead of disconnection.

Throughout four thoughtfully designed sessions, we'll explore your relationship to death and dying, discover what matters most in the end, craft celebration of life plans, draft heartfelt letters to loved ones, and gain clarity on how you want to spend your precious time. Preparing for the end of your life with intention fortifies your spirit and generates stability for your loved ones.

No matter your age or stage of life, having plans in place creates inner and outer peace for yourself and everyone in your orbit, making this program both practical preparation and potent inner work.

Why this work matters

Betsy's Story & Approach

Betsy experienced the transformative power of embracing death and dying in her early twenties when her father received a terminal diagnosis. Through helping him distill what mattered most, build his coffin with his own hands, plan his celebration of life, craft letters to loved ones, and write his will, she witnessed how welcoming the end supports living more freely and fully. She learned that facing mortality doesn't diminish life—it illuminates it, revealing what deserves our precious time and energy.

In those tender months, Betsy discovered that her father's approaching death wasn't just an ending but a doorway into profound presence. Together, they explored the sacred territory between life and death, finding that this liminal space holds some of our most honest conversations, deepest love, and clearest vision. Her father taught her that preparing for death isn't morbid—it's the most life-affirming thing we can do, freeing us to love more boldly, speak more truthfully, and appreciate the extraordinary gift of ordinary moments.

This profound journey inspired Betsy to embrace her own mortality —a story she vulnerably shares in the documentary film Captain Scott B and the Great Adventure, as seen on PBS. Through completing the film project her father had begun, she learned that grief can become a creative force, that love doesn't end with death, and that honoring those we've lost can become a pathway to living more fully.

Drawing from her experience with her father in his final months, combined with her documentary journey, years of teaching yoga and mindfulness, and deep study of death, dying, and grief, Betsy designed the Embracing Death, Dying & Living course to guide others through this sacred territory. She knows firsthand that when we stop avoiding the reality of our mortality and instead learn to embrace it with curiosity and courage, everything changes—our priorities clarify, our relationships deepen, and our appreciation for life intensifies. Through this program, Betsy offers you the tools and support to transform your relationship with death from one of fear to one of wisdom, helping you live with the profound presence and clarity.

Program Details

By the end of this program, you will have:

Internal and external tools to resource yourself in this sacred work

Complete funeral and celebration of life plan

Ethical will reflecting your values and wisdom

Meaningful letters to loved ones

Comprehensive death file with all necessary paperwork for your family

Course Structure:

Four 75-minute sessions via Zoom (live and recorded) Schedule: Biweekly Tuesdays, 7:30-8:45pm EST Dates: October 7, October 21, November 4, November 18

Includes:

  • 14-page downloadable curriculum PDF

  • Four guided live sessions on Zoom

  • Recordings of all sessions for review

  • Ongoing email support throughout the program

Can't make these dates? Sign up for the newsletter to receive updates about future offerings.

In-Person Option: Interested in gathering a group for an in-person experience? Betsy offers this program in-person for groups of 7-20 people. This intimate setting allows for deeper connection and shared exploration of this sacred work. Contact Betsy to discuss logistics, location, and scheduling for your group.

Investment & Accessibility

Program Tuition: Sliding scale $150-$350 Please choose what feels sustainable based on your income level

Payment Options:

  • Venmo: @elizabeth-bertram

  • Check: Elizabeth Bertram, 314 Orange St., Beaufort NC 28516

This work should be accessible to all. Please email about scholarship opportunities if cost is a barrier.

Additional One-on-One Support

For deeper exploration of the program material, Betsy offers individual coaching sessions via Zoom (includes recording):

  • 30 minutes: $40-$100 sliding scale

  • 60 minutes: $80-$200 sliding scale

Ready to Begin This Sacred Work?

Email elizabeth.bertram1@gmail.com with questions or to register.

Testimonials

  • I took this program on the verge of turning 50. It gently eased me into the mindset I've been trying to cultivate on my own for some time now, to begin the daunting project of settling my affairs. What a gift it was to process everything within the cocoon of community. Thanks to Betsy’s guidance, I now feel empowered, even excited, to plan for this singular journey we all take.

    Stephanie Elizondo Griest, author and professor of creative nonfiction, UNC-Chapel Hill

  • When it comes to navigating grief, loss, and end-of-life plans, Betsy demonstrates deep empathy and wisdom beyond her years. I participated in this course shortly after the sudden and unexpected death of my mother, and I found the soulful group discussions and thoughtful guidance from Betsy to be profoundly healing. I would recommend this course to anyone and everyone. 

    Marley Parker

  • Being around Betsy is like putting on my favorite sweatshirt...warm, comforting, and safe.  We took the Embracing Death and Dying course as we are beginning to plan our last phase of life:  where we want to live, how we want to die, what service we want etc.  The timing of this program was amazing.  Betsy helped us move into the arena of end-of-life planning without fear, dread, or apprehension.  She created a curriculum that encouraged us to look inward and get in touch with our feelings about death.  She provides a framework that moves us into each aspect of end-of-life issues.  The idea of a death book, with all the information needed to clear up after us, letters to our loved ones to read before or after our death, burial arrangements, even deciding who we want to speak at our graveside is a marvelous gift to leave loved ones.  I think the thing that I took away most is not to be afraid to have conversations with family and friends before we die so we can share what is important to us, what our values are, and how we want to be remembered.  These conversations can be enriching, enlightening and loving.  Take this class.  You won't regret it.  

    John Hughes 

  • I enjoyed Betsy’s program. The information, the other participants, and Betsy’s guidance helped me so much with this process. Betsy’s personal experiences and her shared examples of items we need to address have been invaluable. Her calming presence and respectfulness of each one's story put me at ease. I love the way she begins and ends each meeting. It centers and grounds me, even after the program has ended.

    Carolyn Robinson